Resistance to prooxidant agent paraquat in the short- and long-lived lines of the seed beetle (Acanthoscelides obtectus)

In the present study we test whether variation in resistance to paraquat (PQ), a free radical generator, correlates with variation in longevity in two sets of seed beetles (Acanthoscelides obtectus) experimental lines that were selected either for early reproduction and short-life or late reproduction and long-life. Long-lived late reproduction lines (L) showed increased resistance to PQ, while opposite was true for short-lived early reproduction line (E). Striking outcome of the selection for early and late reproduction in A. obtectus is asymmetry of responses to alternate mating schedules. The intensity of response depended on selection regime, sex and PQ dose. Evolution of longevity and PQ resistance was faster in L than E selection regime, and in females than males. To understand how age-specific mortality rates are affected by PQ we decomposed post-stress mortality data (using Gompertz mortality model) into initial mortality rate, which reflects basal vulnerability to stresses and age-specific mortality rate, which concerns the rate of increase in stress vulnerability, i.e. the rate of senescence. By estimating the parameters of the Gompertz mortality model we have shown that longevity reduction caused by PQ was the consequence of the increased baseline mortality rather than a speed up of the rate of ageing

Genome Sequence of the Tsetse Fly (Glossina morsitans): Vector of African Trypanosomiasis

Tsetse flies are the sole vectors of human African trypanosomiasis throughout sub-Saharan Africa. Both sexes of adult tsetse feed exclusively on blood and contribute to disease transmission. Notable differences between tsetse and other disease vectors include obligate microbial symbioses, viviparous reproduction, and lactation. Here, we describe the sequence and annotation of the 366-megabase Glossina morsitans morsitans genome. Analysis of the genome and the 12,308 predicted protein–encoding genes led to multiple discoveries, including chromosomal integrations of bacterial (Wolbachia) genome sequences, a family of lactation-specific proteins, reduced complement of host pathogen recognition proteins, and reduced olfaction/chemosensory associated genes. These genome data provide a foundation for research into trypanosomiasis prevention and yield important insights with broad implications for multiple aspects of tsetse biology